Camelids Flashcards
What are the two old world camelids?
- Dromedary camel
- Bactrian camel
What are the 4 new world camelids?
- Alpaca
- llama
- Guanaco
- Vicuna
Where have camelids evolved?
- evolved in the high mountains of south america
- they are robust and require only basic shelter
- temperatures are cold and UV levels are high
What are the two subtypes of alpaca?
Huacaya and Suri
What makes up the value of an alpaca?
- Fibre
- Meat
- Breeding
- Flock guards
How often are alpaca sheared and when?
Once a year in May-July
What is the average fibre yield of a llama?
1.5-2 kg fibre/annum
What is the average fibre yield of an alpaca?
2.5-5.5 kg fibre/ year
How would you determine alpaca fibre quality?
Fibre thickness profile and colour is used to define the quality of the fibre
What is the term for a male alpaca?
macho
What is the term for a female alpaca?
hembra
What is a castrated male alpaca?
wether
What is a weanling?
cria 5-6 months old
What is a yearling?
alpaca at one year of age
What is a cria?
baby alpaca
What is orgling?
the noise made by a macho when mating
What are the average biological facts of an alpaca?
Life span – 20-25yrs
* Gestation Length – 11.5 months
* Produce one cria a year
* Induced ovulators
* Reproductive maturity –
- Male – 18-24 months
- Female – 14-18 months
What is the average microns of alpaca fibre?
20-30 in diameter
How many stomachs does an alpaca have?
three
What is the reason for the anatomical position of the jugular vein and carotid artery?
very thick skin as well
protected from fighting wounds and
predetor attack by transverse processes of cervical vertebrae
What is kush tying/chuckering?
- restraint in sternal recumbancy
What shape are the blood cells of alpacas?
Elliptical
What time is parturition?
usually occurs in the hours of daylight
morning births gives time for the cria to dry out before night fall
may also facilitate the uptake of colostrum- by nightfall the animal is stronger
Where are the common injection sites of an alpaca?
- Intravenous- jugular
- Intramuscular- quadriceps, triceps
- Subcut- triangle in front of the shoulder
What do alpacas have instead of upper incisors?
dental pad
What is the pH of the first stomach?
C1= 10-15 litres pH 6.6
What is the pH of the third stomach?
Involved in acid secretion so very low pH
What is the purpose of them having elliptical shaped erythrocytes
They do not get pulmonary edema at the altitude of cattle
What are the permanent upper incisors and upper/lower canines referred as?
the fighting teeth
How long is the average mating time of an alpaca
25 minutes
What do neonates do after birth?
adopt a ‘kush’ position
they ingest colostrum to gain protective antibodies
From how many days would you do a rectal palpation?
From 45 days
When does calving usually occur?
before 2pm (daylight)
When is castration usually performed?
At 18 months after long bone growth is complete
normally performed under anaesthesia
How much weight do healthy cria gain in the first 4 weeks?
1-1.5kg per week
What are the best ways of identifying a pregnancy?
- Spit offs (around 70% accurate)
- rectal palpation from 45 days
- ultrasound from 25 days
What are the two best milk substitutes for an alpaca?
Goats milk followed by ewes milk
Must beware of disease transmission (Johne’s)
What are the two iv injection sites?
jugular and carotid
What are the two intramuscular injection sites?
- Quadriceps
- Triceps
What is the subcutaneous injection site?
triangle in front of the shoulder of the scapula
Name 6 common alpaca conditions
- Jaw / tooth root abscesses:
- C3 ulceration: stress-induced
- Diarrhoea
- Parasites: internal and external
- Neonate: Development abnormalities
- Vitamin D deficiency: Ricketts in crias, pathological fractures in adults.
What should form the main part of an alpacas diet?
- they are usually very overconditioned
- forages should form the main part of the diet
What should the average alpaca DMI be?
1-2% of their body weight
At what age should you breed a female alpaca?
They reach puberty at 6 months but should not be bred until 12 months
What are some of the signs of a premature cria?
- Teeth not fully erupted
- Floppy ears
- Unable to stand up
- Low birthweight
- Short gestation
How much protein do camelids require?
- 8-10% for maintenance
- 12-14% for growth
- 14-16% for an early weaned cria up to 6-8 months old
